HIGH END 2019
Australian Hi-Fi 53
aEngineerToddEichenbaumlaunchedtheMarkLevin-
sonNo.5101SACDplayer/streamer,whichat$US5,500
is themostaffordabledigitalsourceinML’srange.
Naturally,JBLspeakerswereusedforthedemos.b Magico’s M2s were launched in 2018 but sounded
great driven by MSB’s top Select DAC and Soulutions
ǠŢěƛƧðŠƐŗŁǠČðƧŁŭŢ̻»ļěs ̇ŁƛŢŭƧðċŗěijŭƓŁƧƛČðƓċŭŢ͘Ǡ-
bre cabinet and diamond-coated beryllium tweeter.
Tech Das unveiled what
might just be the most
expensive turntable in
the world ever, the Air
Force Zero, with an air
bearing and a 100kg
platter: $US450,000.
Never one to hold back on features, Technics
is also providing a multi-input DAC, wired or
wireless networking, app control, Bluetooth
aptX and headphone out for €2,499.
Tech Das unveiled what might just be the
most expensive turntable in the world ever
at $US450,000. The Air Force Zero has an
air bearing motor, a five part 100kg platter
made of different alloys atop an air bearing,
and three air pumps/power supplies. It was
demonstrated with CH Precision electronics,
Vivid Giya One Spirit loudspeakers and as
CAD pointed out, a CAD GC-1 ground con-
trol noise absorber which proves that almost
anything benefits from a clean ground.
PMC has made a small but significant
upgrade to its elegant fact loudspeaker series
which has now been cut down to two models
and dubbed Signature. Both fact.8 and fact.12
models have new crossovers that are said
to benefit from tech developed for the big
Fenestria model and upgraded components
including Clarity capacitors and Mundorf
resistors. I had hoped to see Laminair loading
on this range but was told that this would
require a ground-up redesign. Prices for
flat white or metallic grey only finishes are
£6,995 for fact.8 and £14,995 for fact.12.Existing fact. owners are not being offered the
option to upgrade.
Auralic has added another hewn from
solid black box to its G2 range in the Sirius
upsampler. This is designed to enhance the
performance of any DAC by upsampling to
a sample rate that hits the ‘sweet spot’ of the
particular converter being used. It can output
signals at up to 384kHz and DSD512 and con-
vert PCM to DSD or vice versa for £5,499.